Source  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/21/09

U.S. Meat Export Federation CEO Philip Seng said this week that the new Japanese agricultural minister's recent visit to Washington D.C. was an encouraging sign for the beef industry as it seeks wider access to that foreign market.

Seng's comments follows news coverage indicating that the new administration in Tokyo would be more challenging in negotiations regarding Japan's restriction of U.S. beef imports to beef from cattle 20 months of age and younger.

Seng noted that Hirotaka Akamatsu only took office in the last few weeks, and Akamatsu's stated intent to deal with the beef issue on scientific terms is encouraging, he said.

"From the industry's standpoint and hopefully from our government's standpoint, there is nothing but good will and good intent on both sides as far as trying to work this 20-month issue out, because we definitely need to get above 20 months," Seng said. "It's time, frankly, to move forward on this issue."

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